Lives are at risk on Canvey because selfish drivers are blocking the way for fire crews on 999 calls.

Only yesterday (Thursday), firefighters were held up for precious minutes on their way to a car fire because residents in one road had parked so badly their engines could not get through.

Firefighters today warned that next time it could be a house fire - and even a minute's delay could make all the difference to anyone trapped inside.

They are hoping Castle Point Council will take up the problem and introduce more parking restrictions on the island.

Sub-officer Richard Norris said: "Last night wasn't too serious - it just meant someone's Ford Orion ended up more burnt than it might have been if we had arrived sooner.

"But if that call had been to a house, a 50 or 60-second delay could mean serious injury or even death. It is an absolute nightmare."

At last night's emergency call, the fire engine had trouble trying to get around a lorry parked outside a home and opposite another vehicle in Wheal Road.

The crew managed to squeeze through but today urged residents to think before they leave their cars.

Mr Norris said: "The roads are quite tight and close together on Canvey and some people have no regard for others.

"We would like people to have a bit more consideration. We educate people about the importance of smoke alarms and about being more safety conscious in the home but this is something else they need to consider.

"People insist on parking right outside their homes even if someone else is opposite. We have bumped cars out of the way before, without causing any damage, but you can't do that with larger vehicles. The drivers don't really engage their brains."

Fire crews would like to see double yellow lines painted down one side of each road to restrict parking and improve access.

Nigel Thomas, Castle Point Council's director of technical services, said: "If the fire service would like to contact us and suggest where these lines could go they would certainly be considered."

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